A method of configuring a prepress workflow that includes a raster image processor (RIP) is disclosed, together with a graphical user interface. A prepress memory manager is loaded on a local computer as a result of user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed on a computer screen and includes a prepress system design palette and a raster image processor (RIP) module icon that represents a raster image processor distributed object module that is used in a prepress workflow operation. The RIP distributed object module can be configured by user interfacing with the graphical user interface.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method of configuring a prepress workflow that includes a raster image processor (RIP) comprising the steps of: loading a prepress memory manager on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes a prepress system design palette and a raster image processor (RIP) icon that represents a raster image processor distributed object module used in a prepress workflow operation; and configuring the RIP distributed object module by user interfacing with the graphical user interface.
2. A method according to claim 1 , and further comprising the step of dragging the RIP module icon from a modules toolbar into the system design palette.
3. A method according to claim 1 , and further comprising the step of configuring the RIP distributed object module by opening a RIP setup window.
4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the RIP setup window is opened by clicking a mouse button when a pointer is entered on the RIP module icon.
5. A method according to claim 3 , and further comprising the step of enabling an open prepress interface by clicking a box window contained within the RIP setup window.
6. A method according to claim 1 , and further comprising the step of enabling an open prepress interface to store files to disk and allow the RIP distributed object module to process postscript file references to enhance speed of operation.
7. A method according to claim 3 , and further comprising the step of invoking trapping within the RIP distributed object module by clicking a box window contained within the RIP setup window.
8. A method according to claim 1 , and further comprising the step of dragging module icons representing desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow and operative with the RIP distributed object module from a modules toolbar into the prepress system design palette.
9. A method according to claim 8 , and further comprising the step of linking the module icons based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the selected hardware and/or software distributed object modules represented by the module icons.
10. A method of configuring a prepress workflow that includes a raster image processor (RIP) comprising the steps of: loading a prepress memory manager on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes a prepress system design palette and a raster image processor (RIP) icon that represents a raster image processor distributed object module used in a prepress workflow operation; configuring the RIP distributed object module by user interfacing with the graphical user interface and by opening a RIP setup window; and entering within an entry line within the RIP setup window the amount of RAM designated to the RIP distributed object module at startup.
11. A method of configuring a prepress workflow that includes a Raster Image Processor (RIP) comprising the steps of: loading a prepress memory manager on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes a prepress system design palette; selecting module icons representing desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow into the prepress system design palette, said module icons including a RIP module icon representative of a raster image processor distributed object module; linking the module icons based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the RIP distributed object module and other selected hardware and/or software distributed object modules represented by the module icons; and configuring the RIP distributed object module by user interfacing with the graphical user interface.
12. A method according to claim 11 , and further comprising the step of configuring the RIP module by opening a RIP setup window.
13. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the RIP setup window is opened by clicking a mouse button when a pointer is entered on the RIP module icon.
14. A method according to claim 12 , and further comprising the step of enabling an open prepress interface by clicking a box window contained within the RIP setup window.
15. A method according to claim 11 , and further comprising the step of enabling an open prepress interface to store files to disk and allow the RIP distributed object module to process postscript file references to enhance speed of operation.
16. A method according to claim 12 , and further comprising the step of invoking trapping within the RIP distributed object module by clicking a box window contained within the RIP setup window.
17. A method according to claim 11 , and further comprising the step of dragging module icons representing desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow and operative with the RIP distributed object module from a modules toolbar into the prepress system design palette.
18. A method according to claim 17 , and further comprising the step of dragging a module icon representing the RIP distributed object module from the modules toolbar into the prepress system design palette.
19. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of selecting module icons further comprises the step of user enabling a pull down menu and selecting appropriate prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules corresponding to a desired hardware component and/or software function.
20. A method according to claim 11 , and further comprising the step of launching a prepress memory manager at a remote computer based on user input at the local computer, and outputting the prepress workflow to an output device located at the remote computer.
21. A method according to claim 11 , and further comprising the step of configuring a desired hardware and/or software distributed object module based on user input by selecting a module icon representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object module to be configured by user selecting a dialog box corresponding to the desired hardware and/or software distributed object module and inputting information within the dialog box.
22. A method according to claim 11 , and further comprising the step of dragging the module icons into the system design palette with a user selected pointer tool and linking the module icons once positioned within the system design palette with a user selected linking tool.
23. A method of configuring a prepress workflow that includes a Raster Image Processor (RIP) comprising the steps of: loading a prepress memory manager on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes a prepress system design palette; selecting module icons representing desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow into the prepress system design palette, said module icons including a RIP module icon representative of a raster image processor distributed object module; linking the module icons based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the RIP distributed object module and other selected hardware and/or software distributed object modules represented by the module icons; and configuring the RIP distributed object module by user interfacing with the graphical user interface including opening a RIP setup window; and entering within an entry line within the RIP setup window the amount of RAM designated to the RIP distributed object module at startup.
24. A graphical user interface contained on a computer screen of a computer and used for establishing a prepress workflow comprising: a prepress system design palette; a modules toolbar operative with the system design palette, said modules toolbar containing module icons representing different prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules that can potentially be used in a prepress workflow operation, such that the module icons can be dragged from the modules toolbar to the system design palette and linked together based on user input in the order which represents a desired prepress workflow; and a RIP module icon contained within the system design palette and representative of a raster image processor (RIP) distributed object module that can be user selected for configuring the raster image processor distributed object module.
25. A graphical user interface according to claim 24 , and further comprising a systems toolbar having an icon representative of a linking tool.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
October 1, 1999
November 19, 2002
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